Fig. 1

Effects of PQQ administration on RGC survival in ex vivo and in vivo models of RGC stress. A Representative images of retinas cultured ex vivo, immunolabeled for RNA-binding protein with multiple splicing (RBPMS, red) and counterstained with DAPI (blue). Retinal explants were cultured in either basic or supplemented media with either 50 or 100 μM PQQ for 3 days ex vivo (DEV). Control retinas (0 DEV) were directly fixed and processed after the dissection. B Quantification of RBPMS positive cell density per 0.01 mm². n = 5 (0 DEV), 9 (3 DEV), 4 (3 DEV + 50 μM PQQ), 6 (3 DEV + 100 μM PQQ) retinas. C Representative images of retinas from mice injected with either DMSO or rotenone and treated with either vehicle or 20 mg/kg PQQ. Flat mount retinas were immunolabeled for RBPMS (red) and counterstained with DAPI (blue). D Quantification of RBPMS positive cell density per 0.01 mm². n = 9 DMSO, 9 DMSO + PQQ, 10 rotenone and 9 rotenone + PQQ retinas. Scale bar = 20 μm. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01 and ***p < 0.001 versus 0 DEV (explants) or DMSO (rotenone model); ^#p < 0.01 and ^##p < 0.001 versus 3 DEV (explants) or rotenone (rotenone model)